Just weeks after a scandal erupted over a Department of Homeland Security report that described as "right-wing extremists" those who oppose abortion and support secure national borders, another report is revealing that the Department of Defense is teaching that protesters are "low-level terrorists."

The newest action to define those who disagree with positions adopted by the government or administration of the United States was revealed by blogger Dennis Loo at Salon.com.

He cited a complaint filed by the northern California branch of the American Civil Liberties Union demanding that the Department of Defense change its instructions and those who have been given the training be told of the modifications by "sending out corrective materials."

"I have just learned of a scholarly conference paper presented earlier this year that underscores the fact that the DoD training's use of 'low-level terrorism' is hardly an anomaly. 'Low level terrorism' is a term regularly being used by state security agencies," he wrote.

He cited a document at the February convention in New York titled "Labeling 'Low Level Terrorism': The Out-Definition of Social Movements."

Wrote a participant in the Salon forum page, "One of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our Founding Fathers used in their struggle for independence."

Said another, "Yep, when regular legally protected political protest is becoming classified by the powers-that-be, we know we have turned another corner into darkness. Perhaps this is the era the Great UN-enlightenment."
Blogger Jim Bovard added, "I still believe that we have not yet seen the tip of the iceberg of federal efforts to classify political protests or opposition to the government as terrorism."

Blogger Josh Richman at at the Costra Costa Times said, "I guess I'm surprised not only that the government hasn't yet learned its lesson about equating the exercise of our cherished constitutional rights with terrorism, but also that it's so incredibly obvious in doing so."

"Teaching employees that dissent on issues of public concern is something to be feared, rather than encouraged, is a dangerously counterproductive use of scarce security resources, making us less safe as a democracy," the ACLU letter to the Pentagon said.

"DOD employees cannot accomplish their mission of protecting our nation and its values unless they understand that those values encompass the right to criticize our government through protest activities. It is imperative that they are taught the difference between political, religious or social activism and terrorism."

"Peaceful protest is not terrorist activity, it is protected by the First Amendment and is one of the cornerstones of our democratic society," the ACLU said. "The fact that the views espoused may be unpopular or may be critical of the government is hardly a reason to treat engaging in dissent as a suspect activity."

The earlier DHS report was "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment." WND has posted the report online for readers to see.

It also has prompted, as WND has reported, a lawsuit by Thomas More Law Center.

Law Center President Richard Thompson said the promise by DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano to "reword" it truly is "scary because we know they are still going to maintain some kind of targeting for various people that she's never apologized to or never retracted [her accusations]."

The report linked returning veterans with the possibility of terrorism and when it was released and created such a furor for Napolitano she has given several explanations for it, including that she would have reworded the report and that it was issued by a rogue employee.

She later apologized to veterans for having linked them to terror.

But Thompson noted that the report also targeted as "potential terrorists" Americans who:

Oppose abortion

Oppose same-sex marriage

Oppose restrictions on firearms

Oppose lax immigration laws

Oppose the policies of President Obama regarding immigration, citizenship, and the expansion of social programs

Oppose continuation of free trade agreements

Are suspect of foreign regimes

Fear Communist regimes

Oppose a "one world" government

Bemoan the decline of U.S. stature in the world

Are upset with loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs to China and India, and more
And Thompson told WND no apology has been offered to the members of any of those classes of citizens.

Thompson said as part of his preparation for the lawsuit, his organization has uncovered "additional information" that "creates even more concern that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is unconstitutionally targeting Americans merely because of their conservative beliefs."

Thompson said that information will be released in due course.

"This report was the tip of the iceberg," Thompson said at the time. "Conservative Americans should be very outraged."

The Thomas More Law Center filed its lawsuit against Napolitano and the DHS on behalf of nationally syndicated conservative radio talk show host Michael Savage, Gregg Cunningham of the pro-life organization Center for Bio-Ethical Reform Inc. and Iraqi War Marine veteran Kevin Murray.

It alleges the federal agency violated the First and Fifth Amendment constitutional rights of these three plaintiffs by targeting them for disfavored treatment and chilling their free speech, expressive association, and equal protection rights. The lawsuit further claims that DHS encourages law enforcement officers throughout the nation to target and report citizens to federal officials as suspicious rightwing extremists and potential terrorists because of their political beliefs.
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* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.** Resistance to Tyrants, is obedience to God. * Thomas Jefferson*Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property... Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.* Thomas Paine

Man this kinda stuff rubs sand against the grain in the worst possible way! Time for our own training pamphlets?(The fed-up citizens guide to government oppression? " F-UCGTGOP")
low-level oppressors: county librarians,county/federal inspectors of all types,constables, any "peace officers" in black carrying military weapons and large truncheons?
What is it about the first( andthefreedom to dissent) that is so hard to understand ? Even herewith reasonably like minded folks we simply agree to disagree at times and go forward. How else is our society going to function? 300 million folks chafeing under the yoke of govt imposed beliefs.. is not a formulafor longterm survival as a nation.

And of course we all know that it is perfectly acceptable to imprison "terrorists" without legal representation, deny them their constitutional protections, torture them.

"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom." - John F. Kennedy

"You took the good things for granted-now you must earn them again. For every right that you cherish, you have a duty that you must fulfill. For every hope that you entertain, you have a task that you must perform. For every good that you wish to preserve, you will have to sacrifice your comfort and ease. There is nothing for nothing any longer." -George Washington

Hmmmmm...
Makes you wonder what the flag will look like in the next few years!
This has become the "norm" for the news media lately, and I hope that someone, somehow will shut this insanity down.....
This has to end.
The DHS has become an entity unto itself and is run by twits at best, but dangerous none the less...
I fear this is but "phase one" of several we are going to see take place....and quite soon....
Who on this earth gave this countries government the RIGHT to do what they have and continue to do to it's citizens?
Surely Not the voters....
I can only guess it was born of apathy and empathy on the citizens behalf......
Otherwise, this would all be history and a moot point.

Before criticizing another, first walk a mile in their shoes....Then you'll be a mile away, and you'll have their shoes!

Lest we forget, there is yet another entity that is running amok amongst us as well today:
The TSA!
Violations of the Constitutional rights and laws as set forth in our society...
BUT, by whom?
Where did this government designed agency get it's power to do whatever it so desires with NO checks and balances?
There has to be someone responsible for the oversight of these agencies, or are they self-perpetuating?
I hope not!
Brown shirts and black JACK boots will be next!

Before criticizing another, first walk a mile in their shoes....Then you'll be a mile away, and you'll have their shoes!

Grumpus states:
"8700 rpm":That whirring sound you hear is
Jefferson spinning in his grave...At the risk of being overly dramatic; I think "The die is cast",. my friend, administrations rarely return power The massive military industrial complex has assured its tenure even in "peace time" now.After all this is the100year "war on terror" . There will be no peace in our time. Every time some Yemeni kid straps recycled explosives to his donkey and leads the poor beast to the gates of our massive embassy complex in iraq. People in Schenectady NY and Gleason Wisconsin will be saddled with more taxes and laws for "their protection". And if you don't like us protecting you; you can discuss your views at the top of your lungs between jolts of officer BOB's new federally funded Tazer.
..

"Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficient. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding."
-- Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis

Just read the article in T3's link. I would quote a phrase I have seen on tee shirts and bumper stickers; "30,000 Persians died trying to disarm 300 Spartans. We the American people will resisit much harder, this we promise."

"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom." - John F. Kennedy

"You took the good things for granted-now you must earn them again. For every right that you cherish, you have a duty that you must fulfill. For every hope that you entertain, you have a task that you must perform. For every good that you wish to preserve, you will have to sacrifice your comfort and ease. There is nothing for nothing any longer." -George Washington

But We The People vastly outnumber our terroristic overlords. IF we could rise as ONE people, united in our resolve, We The People will be unbeatable.......

But far too many sit in their Lazyboy and tune in "Idol" or "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire".......

Please use correct English. Show the world Americans aren't illiterate.
There, their, they're are different words. Use them properly.
Lose and loose have different meanings.
"Im" and "Ill" mean nothing without the apostrophe.
Capitalization and punctuation are your friends.
Text-speak and hashtags get you into the ignore list.
Commas are NOT your friend when used in large herds......

Ah yes but, only a little over a year later 10,000 Spartans leading 30,000 Greeks in the battle of Plataa routed the Persian army and sent them scurrying back to Persia.

All of the Alamo defenders died also but later the Texicans came together and kicked Santa Ana's ass back across the Rio Grande.

No great achievment comes without great sacrifice.

We need a Thermopylae or an Alamo to rally around. And if the leftist, liberal, socialists keep pushing they may just give us one. We do cling to our guns, tightly, just try taking them away. Molon Labe!!!

"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom." - John F. Kennedy

"You took the good things for granted-now you must earn them again. For every right that you cherish, you have a duty that you must fulfill. For every hope that you entertain, you have a task that you must perform. For every good that you wish to preserve, you will have to sacrifice your comfort and ease. There is nothing for nothing any longer." -George Washington

Very true! And as I get older, and having no close family to worry about, and with my very way of life being threatened, I find I have ever fewer reasons to NOT become one of "The 300". Just hope we can jumpstart the sheeple into doing their God-given duty. I don't mind dying for my country - as long as there will be those to carry on.

Please use correct English. Show the world Americans aren't illiterate.
There, their, they're are different words. Use them properly.
Lose and loose have different meanings.
"Im" and "Ill" mean nothing without the apostrophe.
Capitalization and punctuation are your friends.
Text-speak and hashtags get you into the ignore list.
Commas are NOT your friend when used in large herds......